Arunachal announces decade-long focus on hydropower projects

Arunachal Pradesh declares 2025-2035 as 'Decade of Hydropower' to generate 58,000 MW electricity, focusing on strategic management and development.

GUWAHATI

The Cabinet headed by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has declared 2025-2035 as the ‘Decade of Hydropower’ to harness the State’s potential to generate 58,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

The special Cabinet meeting held on Friday termed the thrust on hydropower as a “strategic management of revenues generated through free power from the hydroelectric projects (HEPs).

“During the Decade of Hydropower, the government aims to undertake strategic policy and governance measures not just to harness the hydropower potential through a judicious mix of mega, large, and small hydroelectric projects, but also to create a stable and supportive policy and regulatory framework for the overall development of the industrial ecosystem in the State,” a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office said.

According to the agreement with power developers, Arunachal Pradesh will receive 12% free power from each HEP, and an additional 1% for a local area development fund. Arunachal Pradesh expects ₹4,525 crore in annual revenue from 2035 onwards from projects in various stages of completion.

These projects, riding cumulative investments of more than ₹2 lakh crore in the next 10 years, have a combined capacity of generating 19 gigawatts (GW) of electricity.

The State Cabinet approved the creation of an escrow account for “strategic management and effective utilisation of the revenue generated from the proceeds of free power” from these HEPs.